Scrub Island opened in 2010 as the first new luxury hotel development in the BVI in 15 years. The ­private-island resort is located about one mile off the east coast of Tortola on a 230-acre landmass visited by Christopher Columbus some 500 years ago. (Legend has it that the island’s name comes from the pirates who, years later, would anchor off its coast to “scrub” barnacles off their ships.) The development is vehicle-free, save for resort shuttles, and includes 52 hotel guest rooms and 31 private-residence homesites, nine of which are built. Guests and homeowners enjoy access to three beaches, a 55-slip marina, a hillside spa, three restaurants, a gourmet market in the Marina Village, and numerous hiking trails.

Scrub Island has 16 homesites available, starting at $500,000. Customizable two-, three-, and four-­bedroom villas range from 3,000 to 6,000 square feet and start at $2.5 million. There are also seven resale properties currently available, including a two-­bedroom, two-bath, 3,100-square-foot oceanfront villa with a media room, a plunge pool, and en suite bathrooms with rain showerheads for $2.5 million.